City Survive Nine-Goal Thriller at Craven Cottage

Samuel Chukwueze's left foot thundered the ball into the bottom right corner in the 78th minute, and suddenly Craven Cottage erupted with the impossible dream that 15th-placed Fulham might complete the most audacious comeback of the season. The Nigerian winger had already netted six minutes earlier, transforming what seemed a comfortable Manchester City victory into a pulsating finale that saw second-placed City cling on for a breathless 5-4 triumph in one of the Premier League's most extraordinary encounters.

The goal avalanche began early when Erling Haaland swept home Jérémy Doku's cross in the 17th minute, celebrating with arms aloft as the travelling City faithful roared their approval. Tijjani Reijnders doubled the advantage in the 37th minute, slotting Haaland's through ball past a helpless Bernd Leno, before Phil Foden curled a sublime left-footed effort into the top corner following a corner just before the break. Emile Smith Rowe's towering header from Harry Wilson's cross in first-half stoppage time briefly silenced the away end, but Foden's clinical finish from Haaland's assist three minutes into the second half seemed to have sealed City's victory.

The tactical battle shifted dramatically after the interval as Fulham abandoned caution and threw bodies forward with reckless abandon. Marco Silva's halftime substitutions injected pace and directness, with Chukwueze's introduction proving inspired. City's midfield, marshalled by Bernardo Silva, struggled to contain Fulham's relentless pressing, while Rúben Dias and his defensive colleagues found themselves under siege as wave after wave of white shirts surged forward.

Despite City dominating possession at 57 percent and registering 12 shots to Fulham's six, the statistics told only half the story of this remarkable encounter. Alex Iwobi's thunderous strike from outside the box in the 57th minute sparked the revival, before Sander Berge's unfortunate own goal briefly restored City's three-goal cushion. Gianluigi Donnarumma made several crucial saves in the closing stages, while Haaland struck the post with a header that would have killed the contest.

The turning point arrived with Silva's double substitution at halftime, introducing fresh legs that transformed Fulham's attacking threat. Chukwueze's pace and trickery down the right flank caused havoc, while the crowd's deafening roar during those frantic final eight minutes of stoppage time created an atmosphere that had seasoned observers comparing it to cup final intensity.

City will look to steady their nerves when they host Sunderland on December 6, needing to tighten a defence that has now conceded four goals in a single match. Fulham, meanwhile, will take enormous confidence into their December 7 clash with Crystal Palace, knowing they pushed one of England's elite to the very brink at fortress Craven Cottage.